THE head of the CFA and the emergency services minister have visited Bendigo to allay firefighters of concerns about a restructure of Victoria’s fire services.

CFA chief officer Steve Warrington and James Merlino spoke to members at Bendigo station ahead of parliamentary debate of the proposed legislation, which would see career firefighters join Metropolitan Fire Brigade firefighters under the new banner of Fire Rescue Victoria, and the CFA become a purely volunteer service.

But Mr Merlino and Mr Warrington have given assurances that the restructure will make little difference in the way fire services are delivered, with paid and volunteer firefighters to continue working side by side at on the fire ground.

Mr Merlino said fears a restructure would see the MFB disenfranchise volunteer firefighters would not eventuate.

“We want you here, and we will support you to have you here,” he said.

Bendigo station is one of 35 across the state with both volunteer and paid firefighters, and Mr Merlino and Mr Warrington have said they will both remain at the station.

The future FRV would have primary responsibility for the areas covered by these integrated stations, Mr Warrington said, but the legislation would allow for the CFA to have a brigade within those boundaries, and it would do so in Bendigo.

Both Mr Warrington and Mr Merlino said it was important to move past the disputes that have shaken the CFA and towards co-operation.

“Let’s get on the bus so it goes where we want to go, and does what we want to do,” Mr Warrington said.

He also said he wanted to see a change in the “us and them” culture between career and volunteer members.

Mr Merlino said the FRV would have a statutory obligation to support the CFA.

In response to questions from members, Mr Warrington said he believed one of the major advantages of the planned reform is that it would allow for the CFA to be an autonomous organisation.

Mr Merlino also said equipment bought by CFA brigades would remain with the CFA.

Wednesday’s meeting in Bendigo indicated there were still details to be worked out, including to which organisation certain roles – such as community education – would go.

CFA District Two acting operations manager Trent McKinnon said there had been some anxiety ahead of the reform announcement, but since that had been made, members were generally optimistic about the proposed changes.

Under the reform package, the CFA will also receive $44 million for station upgrades and a $56.2 million support fund to improve training, recruitment and retention.